Speeches: House of Commons and others: speech notes and source material [all dates below are 1938].

Reference code: CHAR 9/130A-D

Date: 1938 - 1939

Scope/content:

Notes for WSC's speech (30 June) entitled "The Sandys storm" supporting the motion to set up a Select Committee to enquire into a complaint by Duncan Sandys concerning anti-aircraft defences. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5985-90.

Notes for an unused speech (July) on agricultural policy, free trade, and the dangers to sea trade in time of war.

Notes for WSC's speeches (11 and 19 July) entitled "The Sandys storm" on the report of the Committee of Privileges concerning an alleged breach of privilege in the Sandys case. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard for 19 July. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5992-6001.

Notes and source material for WSC's speech (5 October) entitled "A total and unmitigated defeat" on the Munich [Germany] agreement, the acceptance of the German military occupation of the Sudetenland [Czechoslovakia], and its impact on Britain and France. Source material includes: correspondence on the German threat to Czechoslovakia, the consequences for the rest of Europe, and British air defence, from individuals including Jean [Ivan] Maisky [Soviet Union Ambassador to the United Kingdom], Basil Liddell Hart, Sir Henry Strakosch, Robert Boothby, and William Stewart; press cuttings, including articles by General Walter von Reichenau, Commander German 1st Army Corps, and Dorothy Thompson [United States journalist and writer]; information from the Week entitled "Eleventh hour", analysing the military positions of the European democracies, and the Anglo-German Information Service on "Herr [Adolf] Hitler's avowals of peace"; details of motions against government policy and supporting Czechoslovakia's autonomy; government pamphlet containing correspondence respecting Czechoslovakia (September 1938); copy of a press statement by WSC just prior to Munich. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6004-13.

Notes for WSC's speech (17 November) supporting the creation of a Ministry of Supply, appealing for Conservative support, setting out his views on deficiencies in Britain's defences, and calling for a secret session. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6019-30.

Notes for WSC's speech (24 November) on the situation in Palestine, government policy, the Royal Commission's suggestion of partition, and WSC's plan for stabilising the situation and Jewish immigration. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6032-9.

Notes for WSC's speech (5 December) entitled "The Sandys storm" on the Select Committee into the Sandys case and the use of the Official Secrets Acts. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6041-6.

Also includes assorted notes for speeches which had been removed from the file by Martin Gilbert, including notes for some of the above speeches and for WSC's speeches at Manchester (9 May, Free Trade Hall) [for main body of notes see CHAR 9/131] and Harlow [Essex] (25 November) [for main body of notes see CHAR 9/133].